The Pine Creek unit in Oregon poses challenges for rifle hunting, though it might have potential for archery, with elk populations noted as strong but access somewhat hindered by road closures. Hunters with experience in neighboring Imnaha and Snake River units might find Pine Creek less accommodating, with recommendations to favor the Snake for rifle hunts if enough points permit. Concerns were raised about the availability of certain tags and the lack of visible odds and success rates on GOHUNT for specific units, though updates were promised. For those planning hunts, continuous checking for the latest regulations and odds on GOHUNT, once updated, is advised for the most strategic planning.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | 90"-100" | 110"+ |
| Elk | 260"-290" | 300"+ |
High
Low
Bordering Idaho and generally south of the Imnaha River, this unit has elk, whitetails and mule deer in a variety of terrain that ranges from the rugged Hells Canyon Wilderness to flat farm ground and range land.
This is a good unit where hunters can get permits every few years and still have a fair chance of taking a mature bull elk or mule deer.
Mostly mountainous and mostly public, this unit borders Idaho and is mostly south of the Imnaha River. Some of the land is extremely steep, particularly the area inside Hells Canyon Wilderness in the northeast. The south end borders Brownlee Reservoir and is composed of arid, mostly open foothills and flattened ridges. A lot of farm ground and pasture land is near Pine and Halfway in the southeast. Most of the northern half is between 4,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation and consists of steep draws, rough canyons and broken ground. Several small reservoirs are in the northwest.
Forests consist mainly of ponderosa pines, Douglas firs, hemlocks, larches, spruces and aspens. Sagebrush and bunch grasses are the main plants outside forests with many other plant species important to wildlife growing on ridges and in draws, including hackberry, mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, river birch and prickly pear cactus.
Roughly 378 square miles
76% public land
Elevations from 1,700-9,600 feet
Most of this unit is in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and Vale District of the BLM. Gravel and dirt roads access much of the public land. Some roads are closed year-long; others are closed seasonally or when fire danger is high. See alerts and notices on the National Forest website. Hunters have access to a lot of private land through the state’s Access & Habitat program. The 16,400-acre Melhorn Travel Management Area is mostly public and has limited vehicle access. Road access is restricted from August through November on another 26,880 acres of mostly public land in the Lake Fork-Dutchman TMA. Access is restricted from September through November in the 12,800-acre Okanogan-Fish TMA. No vehicles are allowed in Hells Canyon Wilderness, which is in the northeastern part of the unit.
Camping is allowed almost anywhere on public land, including on the Lake Fork-Dutchman, Okanogan-Fish and Melhorn travel management areas. Halfway Motel & RV Park is in Halfway just outside the south end of the unit. Cornucopia Lodge is in Cornucopia on the western edge. Hells Canyon Bed & Breakfast is next to the Hells Canyon National Recreation north of Copperfield on the eastern edge.